Disclaimer: I do not own most of the characters or settings. However, the plot is mine. Well, I think it is, I have yet to read a story with a plot like this one. Oh well…

Lili: Thanks! I'm honored that you think my fic is worthwhile! =D

Caffeine: you really think so, eh?

Flossie1: right! Well, its going to take a while, because James is still getting over Renee, but yes, it will happen! I'm happy you like it!

Chapter 2

Invisibility and Certain death

James lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, happy to be sleeping in on a weekday. Summer had just begun, but the euphoria of school letting out had passed quickly as this summer was to be different from summers of the past. For the first time since he had started at Hogwarts, James would not be spending the summer with Sirius, Remus and Peter. Instead, he'd be spending it with his Grandmere, whom he often referred to as "the hag", in her estate in France. Needless to say, he wasn't much looking forward to it. Who knew what she'd force upon him? Ballroom dancing? French lessons? Table etiquette? He shuddered at the thought.

"James?" his ever-cheery mother called up the steps from the hall.

"I'm coming, Mum!" he hollered back, finally sitting up. He swung his legs onto the floor, and stubbed his right toe on the corner of his trunk in doing so. He had, in fact, gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Which could only mean one thing: this was going to be a horrible day.

For James, packing was a simple matter. He simply threw a good portion of his wardrobe haphazardly into a few suitcases. (A/N: I don't know about the rest of you, but that's how I pack…. Lol) He had a feeling Grandmere wasn't going to be too pleased by the fact that his clothes were wrinkled from his harsh treatment of them. But it was just another way to annoy her without putting her over the edge, which James happened to very good at. He was always careful about toeing this line, as Grandmere in a temper was one thing the great James Potter could not handle.

The last time he'd gotten her in a state, he'd been eleven years old, fresh from his first year at Hogwarts. Grandmere was visiting, and Sirius happened to be visiting as well. Grandmere had brought her precious cat, Pooky, who James often thought she liked more than him. Pooky wasn't exactly a lovable animal. James had always thought of it as an overgrown cotton ball. And it was after he had voiced this opinion to Sirius that the trouble started. Both boys were feeling particularly mischievous that night, and as such Sirius was able to convince James to aid him in the plot. Needless to say, Grandmere was not exactly pleased when her cat no longer had legs or a tail…

He cracked a grin at the memory. Despite the trouble they'd gotten in, seeing that spoiled cat roll over repeatedly in an attempt to reach his food bowl was priceless. James heaved his two suitcases across the hall and threw them down the stairs, then slid down the banister after them. His mother walked into the hall at the precise moment he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"James? Oh! There you are. You did pack, didn't you?" his mother arched her eyebrows as she inspected him.

"Yeah. I packed." He grinned cheekily at her.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but then her face relaxed into a smile.

"Well I'll see you off to the train then. You don't want to be late for Grandmere."

He smiled back at his mother, but under his breath he muttered, "Of course, I don't want to be late for the hag…"

He had a feeling his mother wouldn't like the idea of him flying his broomstick to the train station, so he grabbed his broom, gave her a quick hug and was out the door before she could say a thing. His mother had already bewitched his bags to be feather light, so he secured them to the end of his broom. He pulled his invisibility cloak over his head and the broom. He mounted his broom and soared into the crisp air. James sighed as he rose higher and higher. This would probably be the best part of the whole bloody trip…

All too soon, he spotted the train station below, and began his gradual decent. He kept the cloak on and slipped on the train. Why should he pay anyway? He didn't see the point, even though he had more than enough money to pay for a ticket. He couldn't resist tripping a few people as he found a seat. He'd have to be quick, in case someone decided to sit where he was sitting, but of course, that was part of the lure of not paying. He liked the idea of getting out of the way just in the nick of time. The train pulled to a halt and James got up and made his way up the aisle towards the door. But no one else was getting off, and as James was invisible, the conductor closed the doors before James even had a chance to reach the door. James was about to swear, but then he realized it would be awfully odd for muggles to hear a string of profanities come from thin air. He'd just have to get off at the next stop. The next stop, unfortunately, was Paris, a good hour away from where he needed to be. He quickly leapt out of the train as soon as the doors opened, hitting the pavement, and pulling the cloak off. He looked around, clutching his suitcase. Finally he headed towards where the train station opened up to the city, feeling bewildered by it all. Then of course, a new emotion swept over him; panic. He was in a strange, large city, with no way to contact his Grandmere and nowhere to turn to for help. He sighed again and kept walking, looking for signs of anything magical. He was walking fast, and not watching where he was going, staring at his feet. He ran headlong into a slender, chestnut haired girl with piercing blue eyes, who looked to be but a few years older then he was. They both fell over, and he saw something long and wooden fall out of her pocket: her wand. Upon seeing where his gaze had fallen, she grabbed it and hastily stuffed it in her pocket. She began talking rapidly in French, but seeing his blank expression, switched to English.

"You're not a muggle, are you? Are you lost? Where are you trying to get t-"

He cut her off. "No, I'm not a muggle. Yes, I am lost, and I'm trying to get to my Grandmere's estate."

"And who exactly is your Grandmere?"

"Veronica Potter."

"Oh! I know how to get there! In fact, I'm headed there now!"

James didn't respond. Just great. He thought. Now there was no way he'd be spared punishment. Grandmere would be sure to find out. This girl probably worked for her. He was doomed.

Undeterred, the girl kept speaking.

"So, that makes you James! Nice to meet you! I'm Renee, by the way."

She has got to be the perkiest person I've ever met. Renee. What a pretty name for a pretty girl. I did not just think that!

"You're the infamous trouble maker, right? James?"

"What? Oh, trouble maker? Yup, that's me."

"Ha ha. I wonder how you do it. Madame Potter is probably the sternest woman I know."

"How exactly do you know her?"

"Madame Potter? Well, she's a good friend of mine. She helped me pay my tuition to become an auror. It was most generous of her."

"She what?! She paid your tuition?!" Somehow, James could not fathom that his strict grandmother was capable of a generous act and could be friends with anyone other than her stupid cat.

"Yes, she did. Why do you find that so unbelievable?"

"I-I don't know." He said slowly, still quite shocked.

"Well, anyway, its best we get moving. You are coming with me? James? Aren't you?"

"Uh- yes. Yes, of course." He stuttered trying to make up for his inattention. He'd been staring at her while she talked and she hadn't even noticed.

They set off back to the train station, and James ended up paying for his ticket in the end. James, however was in a throughorly miserable mood, for his Grandmere was not going to be happy when her "friend" informed her of his little adventure. He stared listlessly out the window, wondering if his situation could get any worse. For the second time that day, the train pulled to a halt, but this time James was not invisible and therefore the door was opened for him and his companion. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach as they approached the two large doors that opened up to where his somewhat formidable grandmother resided. They passed through them, and low and behold, Grandmere herself, standing in the middle of the marble floor, stroking that overgrown cotton ball of a cat of hers and wearing a furious expression.

"JAMES HAROLD POTTER! EXPLAIN YOURSELF THIS INSTANT! Oh, Renee, so nice of you to come. You may be seated in the parlor. I'll be with you in a moment."

Renee shot James a sidelong glance and winked at him, but instead of heading to the parlor, she strode up to Grandmere. She spoke quickly in French, and James had no idea what she was saying, but Grandmere kept narrowing her eyes at him. Finally she nodded to Renee, and looked at James again.

"Alright, young man. Mademoiselle Dupont has explained the situation to me." James hung his head, this was it.

"And I would like to tell you, I am proud of you. You did a noble thing. Mademoiselle Dupont extends her thanks, as do I. You may go now."

Naturally, James was completely confused. Why should Grandmere be proud of him for being late? For getting himself lost in the middle of Paris? Renee raised an eyebrow from the other side of the room at him. Ah. She had made something up! She'd covered for him! But why? He followed Renee into the parlor and caught up with her.

"What did you tell her?"

"Oh, just a little yarn about how you saved me from certain death."

"Certain death?!"

"Yes, certain death. Now move, before she notices."

James moved out of her way, completely baffled. He had never met a girl who was as confusing as this one. Certain death? Wasn't that a little far fetched? Well, Grandmere had obviously believed it, because he wasn't in trouble. But more importantly, why had this girl he barely knew lied to the woman who had paid her tuition to save his back?

Author's note: ooh, James is having girl trouble! Tee hee hee.. whew! That chapter took a while to write! Well, hope you like it! PLEASE review! Please! You're not getting the third chapter, which is going to be about James and Lily, until I get more reviews! So, please, do review! If you're going to take the time to read the whole thing, you might as well review!!!! =D

-Sweet Strawberri J